Match Report
Match Report - 17 Aug 2010, St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team lost to Crawley Down
Rangers travelled to much fancied title contenders Crawley Down on Tuesday night and suffered a second defeat by the same score line 3-1 in a little over 48 hours. Had it not been for a string of fine second half saves from Simon Lehkyj the score could have been far worse.
However, match spectators could be forgiven for thinking it was Rangers that were the contenders as it was they that started much the brighter and for the first 2o minutes asked most of the questions of their opponents. Jake Forward was behind most of what was good about Rangers and he and Naz Rouane both made impressive starts. Indeed it was Rouane who had the first attempt at goal with a fierce shot from 25 yards that went narrowly wide and then 5 minutes later Pitcher then went close when well placed, the reliable goal ace would have been disappointed to have missed the target.
It wasn’t until the 15th minute that Crawley Down had their first goal attempt when Tom Lyons cleverly backed heeled for Dan Sullivan but he blazed over. It wasn’t long after that Sullivan put Down ahead when Rangers defensive frailty was exposed. A trio of the back four were hopelessly out of position high and wide up the pitch in an attempt to thwart Sullivan but got in a horrible mess and let the striker dance through, run 20 yards and calmly slot past the stranded Lehkyj. Rangers temporarily rallied, Weston Forward and Pitcher combined well but the strikers goal bound effort was well saved by Goldsmith in the home goal. The home goal certainly gave the home side more confidence, Nick Sullivan had a good chance and then set up his strike partner Tom Lyons who somehow contrived to lift the ball over from 3 yards .On the half hour Glenn Charker denied Sullivan again when played in but it wasn’t long after when again Rangers failed to clear their lines, the ball falling to full back Joe Ranson who fired through a crowd of players from 20 yards, across Lehkyj and in to his bottom right hand corner.
Half Time saw Roy Staughton replace James Weston for the returning Terry Gacias and Naz Rouane for Sundays FA Cup goal scorer Sam Palmer. The game remained fairly even for the most of the second half although it was again the Rangers defence that opened up regularly to expose Simon Lehkyj who made two outstanding saves from Sullivan and then at the feet of Allard. Hawkes replaced Boutall on 70 minutes as Rangers went chasing the game but you couldn’t solely blame the defence as Rangers continued to give the ball away in midfield and nothing was sticking up front. On occasions that Rangers had possession there wasn’t the edge that they had at the start of the match although Forward played a clever a ball through to Pitcher who lifted the ball over the advancing keeper to score Rangers consolation at the end. By then the game was already over when 10 minutes from time the Down Centre back Wes Millis, up for a corner, was left totally unmarked in the box when a cross from Dan Sullivan gave him a free header after Rangers concede cheap possession.
Staughton couldn’t hide his disappointment after the match, he and his management team are well aware of what is required but losses of key players to Ryman league teams, key injuries and unavailability have meant he hasn’t started with the same personnel in the opening 3 games. A win away at Wick on Saturday would be a perfect response for a team with great promise.
Mom. Jake Forward was behind all good that Rangers produced but Lehkyj gets it for some outstanding saves.
Crawley Down 3 - 1 St Francis Rangers FC 1st Team